An EMTR calculation takes account not only for the statutory tax rates but also the implicit tax rates that are a result of the many tax benefits and social welfare benefits that phase out with rising income. Essentially, the EMTR is the tax rate that earners pay on their last dollar of income earned. Effective marginal tax rates are important because they affect an earner’s incentive to earn more.

By Capretta’s calculation, accounting for the personal income tax, payroll taxes, the phase-out of the earned income tax credit, and the phase-out of the health insurance entitlement provided in the Baucus plan, “the effective, implicit tax rate for workers between 100 and 200 percent of the federal poverty line would quickly approach 70 percent – not even counting food stamps and housing vouchers.”

Indeed, Jim seems to understate matters, as he includes only the employee half of the payroll tax. Including both the employee and employer halves, as economic theory says is appropriate, appears to give a marginal tax rate closer to 80 percent. And, of course, many states impose income and sales taxes as well, and these would further raise the overall marginal tax rate.

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